Trolley-harp carrier.



Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Inventor Attorneys A. C. MINER.

TROLLEY HARP CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.24. 1914.

Witnesses THE NORRIS PETERS 6a.. PHOTO-LIT 0 ASH! G o ALFRED C. MINER,OF MISSOULA, MONTANA.

TROLLEY-HARP CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Application filed December 24,1914. Serial No. 878,894.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED C. MINER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Missoula, in the county of 'Missoula and State of Montana,have invented a new and useful Trolley-Harp Carrier, of which thefollowing 'is a specification.

The present invention appertains to a trolley harp carrier applicable tothe free end of a trolley pole, and having novel means for supportingthe trolley harp for movement relative to the. pole, in order that thetrolley wheel may be held constantly and effectively in contact with thetrolley wire.

It is the object of this invention, to pro vide a trolley harp carrierof novel construction, whereby it will efficiently fulfil its office, tohold the trolley wheel .in proper contact with the trolley wire at alltimes, and to prevent the trolley wheel jumping from the trolley wire.It is also within the scope of the invention, to provide a device of thenature indicated, the construction of which is comparativelysimple,non-encumbering and inexpensive, as well as being improved generally, soas to enhance the-utility of the device. 1

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de-'scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawing, wherein f Figure 1 is a longitudinal section ofthe present device, taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2, illustrating thedevice applied to the end of the trolley pole, and the harp applied tothe device. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the present device. Fig. 3 is anend view thereof.

In carrying out the invention, the trolle harp carrier embodies a casingorhollow body 1 comprising a triangular top 2, diverging sides 3, and across piece 4 between the sides 3 at the widest end of the casing 1, thebottom of the casing or body having an opening for enabling rain, snowand other foreign matter entering the casing,

to pass therefrom through the bottom of the casing, to prevent the partsbeing clogged or otherwise impaired. The casing 1 tapers from that endhaving the cross piece 4., or is of flared construction with an enlargedmouth at that end having the cross piece 4, and the smallest end of thecasing 1 which is remote from the cross piece 4, is provided with alongitudinally projecting split sleeve 5 which is adapted to be slippedover the upper or free end of an ordinary trolley pole 6. The sleeve 5is preferably split, with the slot thereof disposed lowermost, it beingnoted that the casing may be fashioned from a sheet metal blank, ifdesired, although it may be in the form of a casting, or constructed inany other suitable manner. A transverse rivet 7 is preferably engagedthrough the sides 3 of the casing 1 adjacent the sleeve 5, for renderingthe easing and the sleeve 5 substantial.

Disposed within the casing 1 is an elongated socket member 8, having thesocket or bore 9 for receiving the shank 10 of the trolley harp 11 whichcarries the trolley wheel 12, and the socket member 8 is mounted formovement within the casing 1, so as to enable the harp 11 to movevertically and laterally relative to the trolley pole. Thus, the inner.end of the socket member 8 is provided with upper and lower ears 13projecting therefrom, which straddle the body portion of a T-shapedmember 14:. The body portion of the member 141 projects toward the mouthof the casing 1, and the ears 13 are pivoted to the body portion of themember 14, by means of a pivot pin 15, which allows the socket member 8to oscillate or vibrate laterally. The head of the member 11 is disposedtransversely and its arms are journaled through bearings 16 disposedwithin the casing l and secured to the sides 3 thereof adjacent thesleeve 5 and rivet 7. The bearings 16 are provided with flanges or'ears17 riveted or otherwise secured to the sides 3 of the casing 1, and thearms of the head llare also preferably, although not necessarily,journaled through the sides 3 of the casing. The bodyportion of themember 1 1 is thus free to swing vertically, or about a transverse orhorizontal axis, and the socket member 8 being carried by the bodyportion of the member 14, will enable the socket member 8 to oscillateor swing vertically, as well as laterally. I

A curved strip or spring 18 is terminally secured to the top 2 of thecasing 1 and the upper surface of the socket member 8 adjacent the pivotof the said socket member, and the strip or spring 18 serves as aflexible connection between the socket member 8 and easing 1 toelectrically connect them, to reduce the liability of the electriccircuit being broken between the pole and harp, due to the trolley.wheel striking the suspension points of the trolley'wire or otherinequalities in the trolley wire. The strip or spring 18 will thusproperly conduct the electrical energy between the pole and harp at alltimes, and may flex when the socket member 8 swings within the casing 1,so as not toimpair the operation of the present device.

As a means for yieldably holding the member or arm 8 and harp 11 carriedthereby at a neutral or normal position with respect to the casing 1 andpole 6, a pair of upright rods 19 is terminally secured through the top2 and cross piece 4 of the casing adjacent the sides thereof and withinthe mouth portion of the casing, and a spring raised transverse bar 20has its end portions slidably embracing the rods 19. The member 8 isseated upon the bar 20 and is adapted to swing laterally thereon, andcoiled wire expansion springs 21 are disposed upon the rods 19 below thebar 20 to yieldably support the said bar, so that the bar 20 willnormally hold the member 8 raised. The springs 21 are seated uponadjusting nuts 22 threaded upon the lower end portions of the rods 19,whereby the tension of the springs 21 may be regulated by adjusting thenuts 22. A pair of upper and lower horizontal or transverse rods 23 areterminally engaged through'the sides 3 of the casing 1 adjacent the rods19, and a pair of upright bars 24 have their terminal portions slidablyengaging the rods 23. The bars 24 are adapted to bear against oppositesides of the member 8, and are spring pressed, by means of coiled wireexpansion springs 25 disposed upon the rods 23 between the bars 24 andthe sides 3'ofthe casing. The springs 25 at the opposite sides balanceone another, to hold the member 8 at an intermediate or central positionbetween the sides of the casing, under normal conditions. It will thusbe noted that the bar or slide 20 supports the member 8, while thesprings 21, when the trolley wheel strikes the suspension points orother irregularities in the trolley wire. Thus, the harp and pole mayvibrate relative to one another, which will reduce the liability of thetrolley wheel jumping away from the trolley wire. In this manner, thetrolley-wheel is constantly or steadily held in'contact with the trolleywire.

The member or arm 8 may swing transversely within the casing 1, so as toallow the harp to move toward one side or the other of the axis of thepole 6, as when the street car or other electrically propelled vehicleto which the device is applied, is rounding a curve. When the member 8is swung toward one side it will move the respective bar or slide 24therewith against the corresponding springs 25, the said springs beingbrought under greater tension, serving to return the member 8 to normalposition as soon as the lateral strain or pressure is removed from theharp.

The present device will allow a limited movement or" the harp andtrolley wheel carried thereby with respect to the pole, to enable thetrolley wheel to constantly engage the trolley wire, and to enable thetrolley. wheel to readily work along bends in the trolley wire. reduceto a minimum, the noise incident to the trolley wheel striking bands,ears 01) other obstructions upon the trolley wire; This device will alsodecrease the wear of the trolley wheel and wire, to increase the lifethereof, and arcing is prevented, to

avoid the loss of power and current.

The present device will also Having thus described the invention, whatis claimed as new is v 1. In a devlce of the class described, a cas mg,a T-shaped member hav ng its arms journaled within the casing, a memberpiv- Y oted to the body portion of the said T-shaped member, andyieldable means within the casing for holding thefsecond mentionedmember at a normal position; 7 V V 2. In a device of the characterdescribed,

a casing, an arm pivotally mounted therein to swing vertically andlaterally relative thereto, balanced yieldable means between the saidmember and sides of the casing to hold the said member at'anintermediate position between the sides of the casing, and yieldablemeans for swinging the'said member and casing vertically relative to oneanother.

3. In a device of thecharacter described, a casing, a member pivotallymounted therein to swing vertically andlaterally, a vertically movablespring pressed slide mounted within the casing, the said member bearingagainst the slide and being swingable along the same, and spring meansdisposed between the said member and sides of the casing for normallyholding the said member at an intermediate position. 1 I

4. In a device of the character described, a casing, a member pivotallymounted therein, a pair of upright rods mounted Within the casing, atransverse bar slidable upon the said rods, springs mounted upon thesaid rods and codperating With the said bar, the said member bearingagainst the bar and being movable therealong, and yieldable means betWenthe said member and casing for holding said member, normally at anintermediate position.

5. In a device of the character described, a casing, a member pivotallymounted therein, transverse rods mounted Within the easing, slidesmounted upon the said rods and bearing against the opposite sides of thesaid member, balanced springs disposed upon the said rods between theslides and casing for holding the said member normally at anintermediate position, and yieldable means for moving the casing andsaid member vertically relatively to one another.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ALFRED C. MINER.

Witnesses:

WALTER M. BIoKroRD, ZELMA NASH.

Copies of this patent'may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

